Stand Up To Coal Salt Fork Float

On June 21st, 22 paddlers enjoyed a lazy afternoon floating on the Salt Fork of the Vermilion River, celebrating the beauty and natural history of this local, Midwestern stream,.  After the float, the group rendezvoused with nearly 20 additional people to enjoy a potluck at Homer Lake Forest Preserve.  This event was sponsored by Stand Up To Coal and Prairie Rivers Network in an effort to protect the Salt Fork from a proposed coal mine in Southwest Vermilion County by Sunrise Coal (a subsidiary of Hallador Energy).  Potential surface runoff from snow melt and rainwater compounded by proposed discharge waters through pipes from the processing facility could contaminate the Salt Fork river, impacting natural biological communities as well as recreational and drinking water supplies.